Wax applicator



June 16;, 1942. J. E. RICHARDS WAX APPLICATOR Filed March 1, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 1 MMMMMMMMMI Eli-4'- INVENTOR RICHARDS Y B 371. 2%ATTORNEY.

F/Z l0 Jose-PH E June 16, 1942. J. E. RICHARDS WAX APPLICATOR 2Sheets-Shee t 2 Filed March 1, 1940 JNVENTOR.

' JOSEPH E. RICHARDS Qwhw ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES}PATENT" OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to applicators of the class susceptible for usein spreading wax and other materials on surfaces to be polished ortreated.

In general terms the subject-matter of this invention consists in anapplicator which is wholly automatic in the operation of spreading waxor other materials on the surface to be treated. More specifically, theinvention resides in the provision of a spreader mechanism which carriesa hopper and has a pivotally connected handle which, through the mediumof a plunger having an operative connection to the handle, will causesuccessive charges of material to be automatically fed from the hopperonto the surface being treated.

Among the objects of this invention is the provision of an automaticapplicator which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, whichwill be simple and efficient in its operation, and which will not easilyget out of order when put to its intended uses. Other objects of theinvention will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

I am aware of the fact that in the prior art there are numerousmechanical devices, the purpose of which was to eliminate the arduoustask of manually spreading wax or other materials on floors. None withwhich I am familiar has been universally adopted because of variousshortcomings. In the first place, no one, prior to the advent of thesubject-matter hereof, has devised an applicator which is whollyautomatic in the feeding of the material to be spread, thosecommercially available requiring manual operation of a valve orequivalent means to release quantities of the material, which is anobjectionable practice because it does not make for uniformity ofresults. Secondly, there has been a failure in the known devices toprovide satisfactory mechanisms for handling wax in paste and liquidform, i. e., to eliminate clogging of the discharge means.

The invention forming the subject-matter hereof overcomes the objectionsto the known devices, and provides a device which is extremely simple tooperate, highly efficient for the purpose intended and speedy inoperation.

In the drawings forming a part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the machine of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through one of the wax hoppers,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the applicator head showing theplunger and gate there- Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section,of a, modification or the invention, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the subject-matterof Fig. 4.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3,inclusive, the numeral I0 designates a spreader head, to the bottom ofwhich there is secured a brush H by means of conventional nuts and bolts(see Fig. 1). While a brush is illustrated as the means employed tospread the wax or other material, it will be understood that any otherform of spreader, such as felt or lambs wool, may be used with equalefficacy.

At each of the two ends of the spreader head Ill I provide a wax hopperl2, here shown as integral parts of the head Ill and disposed betweenthe vertically arranged posts I3 and M. It will be appreciated, ofcourse, that the hoppers may be detachably connected to the head I0,such being regarded as a matter of choice. Each of the hoppers 12 has abottom I5 inclined toward the center of the head It. The transverselydisposed slots I6 extending through the head i0, inclined at an angleopposite that of hopper bottoms I5, serve as material passagewaysleading to the brush H (see Fig. 2), and are communicable with thehoppers IZ, as will hereinafter be made to appear.

A plunger 20 is slidably received in each of the passageways or slots l6as a means of forcing wax fed from the reservoirs outwardly through thehead II! to the brush H for the spreading operation. These plungers 20are adapted to be reciprocated by the following mechanisms.

A shaft 22, journaled in the bearing blocks 23 arrangedon the two sidesof the head II], has a handle socket 24 formed thereon. A conventionalhandle 25, fitted in the socket 24, provides the means of manuallysliding the spreader head back and forth over the floor area to be waxedor treated, in which operation the handle 25 is oscillated. Through themedium of the substantially heart-shaped cams 26, on the shaft 22, thisoscillatory motion of the handle 25 is converted into lineal motion toreciprocate the plungers 20 in the discharge of wax.

The operative connection between plungers 20 and cams 26 consists in twopairs of arms 21 projecting from each of the plungers, each pair of armshaving a pin 28 therebetween riding in the slot 29 adjacent theperiphery of the cam.

As will be noted from Fig. 4, the plungers 20 are cut back at theiredges, as at 36, providing a shoulder fitting a corresponding offset 3|in the ends of the slots I6, as a means of guiding the 'plungers intheir reciprocal movement.

Gates 35 (see Fig. 2) provide the means for regulating the discharge ofwax from hoppers I2 into slots I6. In the preferred form of theinvention these gates are shown as slidably received in channels 36extending through the head III in the plane of the slots I6 (see Fig.4). The means for adjusting the position of the gates 35 consist in theracks of teeth 31 on the faces of the gates, engaged by the gears 38fixed on rods 39 supported by ears 46 on the inner side of the hoppersI2. Each of the rods 38 has a knob at its outer end, the turning ofwhich will cause the gate to be raised or lowered to regulate the sizeof the openings between hoppers I2 and slots I6 and hence control theflow of wax there through.

When the device is used to spread wax in paste form it will be founddesirable to employ means for force feeding wax from the hoppers I2 intothe slots I6 for the action of the plungers 26. .As will be noted fromFigs. 1 to 3, inclusive, I have provided a lid 45 adapted to be insertedin the reservoir I2, on top of the charge of wax, the :said lid beingslidably received on a pair of posts .46 dependent from a strap 41spanning the posts I3 and I4. Helical springs 48 on the posts 46,between the strap 41 and the lid 45 urge the latter downwardly againstthe charge of wax in the hoppers I2. Downward movement of the lid 45 islimited by stop means on the posts 46, here shown as cotter-pins 49.

The straps 41 are detachably connected to the posts I3 and I4 by meansof the spring clips 52 pivotally attached to the posts I3 and I4 andadapted to be snapped over the ends of the straps and the tips of theposts, fitting into a groove provided for the purpose. As will be notedin Fig. 1, the ends of the straps 41 and the posts I3 and I4 are fittedtogether by means of the conventional tongues and grooves, respectively.

A handle 55 on lid 45 facilitates the contraction of the lid toward thestrap for insertion of the lid into the hopper I2 after refilling thesame with wax.

In some instances it may be desirable to use the device of Figs. 1 to 3in spreading liquid wax. In that case there will be no need for forcefeed means within the hopper I2. Hence, I have provided means forretaining the lid 45 in its uppermost position against the urge ofsprings 48. A pin 56 projecting through the strap 41, with its headseated in a recess therein, is provided at its lower end with across-bar 51, adapted to be thrust through a slot 58 in handle 55 andturned to effect the locking. Thus locked the lid 45 serves as a coverfor the hopper I2 and the liquid wax therein may flow by gravity intothe slot I6 for the spreading operation, subject to regulation byadjustment of the gate 35.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the mechanism here describedin the singular, employed to feed the wax from the hoppers I 2,comprises a worm 66, journaled in the late 6|, on which worm there is atraveling plunger 62. A ratchet wheel 63, secured to the upper end ofthe worm 66, is engaged by a rack 64 slidably received in the sleeves 65on plate 6|. The inner end of the rack is forked, as at 66, and has apin 6! adapted to ride in the slot 68 in cam 69. Here .again the cam 69is fixed on shaft I6, journaled in bearing blocks 1|, on which shaftthere is formed a handle socket I2 for a handle I3.

It will thus be seen that oscillatory movement of handle It will,through the action of the cam 69, cause rack 64 to be reciprocated,turning the ratchet wheel 63 and worm 60 and forcing plunger 62downwardly against the charge of wax in hopper I2.

In this modification, the bottom of hopper I2 is provided in the back ofbrush II, the same having a depression cut therein and sloped from itstwo sides toward a center discharge slot I5.

Additionally, the plate 6| is detachably connected to the hopper I2 bymeans of the pins 16 passing through the ends thereof and the lugs TI onthe edges of hopper I2, said pin having a threaded connection with oneof the lugs TI in each instance.

In the preferred forms of the invention illustrated herein, theinvention has been shown as having hoppers I2 at each of the two ends ofthe head I0, there being wax discharge means in association with eachhopper. A spreader of this character will be particularly useful in thetreatment of floors of large area such as are found in public buildingsand the like. A smaller and less expensive unit embodying the inventionfor use in private dwellings will be obtained by merely eliminating onehopper and its associated wax discharge mechanism, and such is, ofcourse, within the purview of this invention. Hence, wherever mention ismade herein of the hopper and associated mechanism in the singular, itis intended to include the plural, and vice versa.

The operation of the invention will be readily understood from theforegoing. In the case of the preferred form (Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive),the spring clips 52 are first disconnected and then strap 41, and theconnected posts 46 and lid 45, is removed from the hopper to permitrefilling. After refilling, the head I0 is'slid back and forth over thesurface to be treated, in which operation the oscillatory motion of thehandle 25 is transmitted into lineal motion to reciprocate the plungers20 which cut off wax emitted from the hopper I2, under force feed, and.deliver it to the brush II for spreading.

In the case of the modification in Figs. 5 and 6, the oscillatory motionof the handle is transmitted to rotate the worm 66 to force the plunger62 downwardly to discharge wax through the slot I5 to brush II forspreading.

It will be appreciated that my invention may take many forms in additionto the two illustrated and described herein without departing from thespirit thereof, and I therefore desire full protection according to thescope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle having pivotalconnection therewith for oscillation with respect thereto, a wax hoppercarried by the applicator head, means causing discharge of wax from thehopper, means operable to cause successive charges of wax to be fed tothe surface to be treated as discharged from said hopper, said lastnamed means having an operative connection with said handle and beingactuated upon oscillation thereof. a

2. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle connected therewithfor oscillatory movement, a Wax hopper carried by the applicator head, apassageway through the head in communication with the hopper, force feedmeans in the hopper, plunger means in said passageway,

said plunger having an operative connection with and being actuated uponoscillation of said handle.

3. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle connected therewithfor oscillatory movement, a wax hopper carried by the applicator head, apassageway through the head in communication with the hopper, force feedmeans in the hopper, means for regulating the quantity of wax fed fromthe hopper into the passageway, plunger means in said passageway, saidplunger means having an operative connection with and being actuatedupon oscillation of said handle.

4. In .a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle connectedtherewith for oscillatory movement, a cam in the connection of thehandle to the head, a wax hopper carried by the applicator head, apassageway through the head in communication with the hopper, force feedmeans in the hopper, plunger means in said passageway, said plungermeans having an operative connection to said cam.

5. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle connected therewithfor oscillatory movement, a cam in the connection of the handle to thehead, a wax hopper carried by the applicator head, a passageway throughthe head in communication with the hopper, force feed means in thehopper, means for regulating the quantity of wax fed from the hopperinto the passageway, plunger means in said passageway, said plungermeans having an operative connection to said cam.

6. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle connected therewithfor oscillatory movement, a cam in the connection of the handle to thehead, a wax hopper carried by the applicator head, a passageway, throughthe head in communication with the hopper, a pair of posts, one on eachside of said hopper, a bar spanning the posts, means detachablyconnecting the bar to the posts, a lid in the hopper, yieldable means onthe bar urging the lid downwardly into the hopper, a plunger in saidpassageway, said plunger having an operative connection to said cam.

'7. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle connectedtherewith for oscillatory movement, a cam in the connection of thehandle to the head, a wax hopper carried by the applicator head, apassageway through the head in communication with the hopper, a pair ofposts, one on each side of said hopper, a bar spanning the posts, meansdetachably connecting the bar to the posts, a lid in the hopper,yieldable means on the bar urging the lid downwardly into the hopper,means for regulating the quantity of wax fed from the hopper into thepassageway, a plunger in said passageway, said plunger having anoperative connection to said cam.

8. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle connected therewithfor oscillatory movement, a cam in the connection of the handle to thehead, a wax hopper carried by the applicator head, a passageway throughthe head in communication with the hopper, a pair of posts, one on eachside of said hopper, a bar spanning the posts, means detachablyconnecting the bar to the posts, a lid in the hopper, yieldable means onthe bar normally urging the lid downwardly into the hopper, means on thebar for locking the lid against the urge of said yieldable means, aplunger in the passageway, said plunger having an operative connectionto said cam.

9. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle having pivotalconnection therewith for oscillation with respect thereto, a pair of waxhoppers carried at opposite ends of the applicator head, means causingdischarge of wax from the hoppers, means openable to cause successivecharges of wax to be fed to the surface to be treated as discharged fromsaid hoppers, said last named means having an operative connection withsaid handle and being actuated upon oscillation thereof.

10. In a wax applicator, an applicator head, a handle having pivotalconnection therewith for oscillation with respect thereto on the orderof 180, a pair of wax hoppers carried by the applicator head, meanscausing discharge of wax from the hoppers, means operable to causesuccessive charges of wax to be fed to the surface to be treated asdischarged from said hoppers, said last named means having an operativeconnec tion with said handle and being actuated upon oscillationthereof.

JOSEPH E. RICHARDS.

